Black Berkey® Purification Elements Exceed Testing Expectations

The manufacturer of the Berkey® Water Purification systems has just released this exciting information regarding testing of the Black Berkey® Purification Elements (Black Berkeys®). This testing confirms the claims of previous lab testing & adds more contaminants removed/reduced to the list of verified lab claims.

Arlington, Texas, 26 September, 2012. In late 2009, New Millennium Concepts, Ltd., set a new standard for free standing, gravity fed water filtration systems with their Black Berkey® element. At that time, new test data verified that this particular element removes virus to greater than required by the “Purification Standards”.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the only element of its type to actually pass virus testing, to the degree of greater than Log 5, that’s 99.999% reduction. To do this, the Black Berkey® purification element underwent a battery of tests to meet the purification standards, including:

-Element must remove/inactivate all types of pathogenic organisms. Specifically, element must remove one or two species of virus to 4 Log10 (=> 99.99%) and remove pathogenic bacteria to 6 Log10 (=> 99.9999%) and remove cysts (protozoans) to 3 Log10 (=> 99.9%). Further, the elements must demonstrate this reduction in normal (tap) water and extremely turbid challenge water.
-Purification Challenge: The Standard has selected 3 types of challenge organisms: Bacteria (Klebsiella/Raoultella terrigena), Viruses (Poliovirus and Rotavirus or MS2 bacteriophage) and Protozoan Cysts (Giardia or Cryptosporidium).
-VIROLOGY – Demonstration of a 4 Log10 (99.99%) reduction is required on the combined polio/rota or MS2 virus challenge matrix.
-BACTERIOLOGY – Demonstration of a 6 Log10 (99.9999%) reduction is required for the Klebsiella/Raoultella terrigena bacterial challenge.
-CYST REMOVAL – Demonstration of a 3 Log10 (99.9%) reduction is required for the cysts using Cryptosporidium or Giardia.

Now, on the heels of this recent biological (virus) testing, New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. is proud to announce the results of a new round of testing for the Black Berkey® purification element. Once again, this proprietary element is setting new standards for gravity fed water filtration and purification systems.

Testing on our upgraded elements, specifically on Heavy Metals, not only confirms the tests on prior formulations, where the Black Berkey® elements typically reduce Heavy Metals by 95% or greater, but adds a whole host of new contaminates to the list. Confirmed reductions include Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead and Mercury. New to the Heavy Metal list are Antimony, Barium, Chromium 6, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Nickel and Vanadium. Other new non-heavy metal entries on the reduction list include Selenium and Thallium. Additional new potential contaminates that show significant reduction of 95% or greater are Nitrites, MBAS (Methylene Blue Active Substances) and Arsenic.

It is interesting to note that in all the testing conducted on the Black Berkey® purification element, reduction occurred in excess of the reporting limit for each test. In other words, the reduction levels achieved, in every case, exceeded the testing limitation of the laboratory in which the tests were conducted. What this means is that the reduction levels indicated on the enclosed test results are a minimum that can be achieved; real world results may actually be greater than the percentages listed.

All these recent tests were conducted on the upgraded formulation for the Black Berkey® Purification Elements, ensuring that Black Berkey® elements are one of the most rigorously tested elements available. New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. works continuously to upgrade and improve the complex matrix and proprietary formulation of its Black Berkey® purification elements. More test results for organic/inorganic matter and VOC’s coming soon.

*Not all potential contaminates listed will be found in all water and reduction levels can depend on competing contaminates found within the water being tested.

The black Berkey filters only work as well as their attachment to their base. WHEN this fails, unfiltered water drains to the lower collection tank. Berkey continues to claim that this problem has been resolved. IT HAS NOT! Go to the Survivalist Forum and read about the countless number of people who have seen this problem first hand. I am a Berkey owner with defective black filters that Berkey replaced. The filter bases are AGAIN loose with leakage of UNFILTERED water noted in lower chamber. Do not be fooled, this is an inferior product at a PREMIUM PRICE.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, Paul. I understand your frustration. The fact is that the base design was changed in August 2011 and improved in order to avoid a potential failure as was seen in a percentage of filters manufactured at the end of 2010 through May 2011. Only a percentage of the filters manufactured during that time frame were defective which is why a complete recall wasn’t issued. We are active in many forums and encourage folks to contact New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. directly for warranty service as their policy directs.

We continue to believe in & personally use the Berkey products. New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. encourages those who need warranty service to download the documents & contact them directly if warranty is needed.

If for some reason you don’t receive the warranty service that you need after contacting New Millennium Concepts, Ltd., please feel free to give us a call at 877-886-3653 and I’ll be glad to help you the best I can.

Our Exclusive Lifetime warranty for Berkey Water Filtration Systems ensures replacement of all Berkey canisters, spigots, washers, and wing nuts that fail due to faulty materials or workmanship. These items may be returned to us and we will send you new replacement items. There is no need to register with us; this warranty applies to any system purchased on our web site at www.directive21.com or over the phone on or after January 1, 2011.

This warranty does not cover damage caused by carelessness, accidents, or abuse of the system. Filters have a separate warranty. This Exclusive Lifetime warranty exists in addition to all other stated warranties on Berkey Systems.

To take advantage of your lifetime warranty on Berkey canisters, spigots, washers, or wing nuts, contact us at 877-886-3653. If possible, please have your receipt handy. Once you have reported the issue, you will be asked to ship the damaged parts to us. We will process the claim and, if it’s approved, ship the replacement parts to you within one business day. All shipping will be at the customer’s expense.

All other items have a manufacturer’s warranty of at least 90 days, and some are up to a year. If an item breaks due to a manufacturer defect, please call us at 877-886-3653.